Overview: In our crossover-crazed times, there is no shortage of choices among compact SUVs, including those with a luxury bent. The NX is both a cost-effective and trendy path to Lexus ownership, and it’s proving to be a popular entry in the brand’s lineup. In 2016, 54,884 NX crossovers were sold in the U.S., roughly half the sales of its more established and larger stablemate, the RX, but 17,595 more than Lexus’s smallest sedan, the IS.

Lexus offers two versions of its littlest ute. The NX200t is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four making 235 horsepower. Its 258 lb-ft of torque routes through a six-speed automatic to either the front wheels or, as in the car we drove for this review, all four. For buyers seeking a bit more attitude, an F Sport model adds a sport-tuned suspension, a more aggressive grille, sport seats, and a g-force meter in the driver’s information display. The NX300h model is the sole hybrid offering among luxury-subcompact crossovers and uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, two electric motors, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to deliver a combined 194 horsepower.

What’s New: Lexus introduced the NX for the 2015 model year and has endowed it with only a few changes for 2017. Most notably, the front-wheel-drive NX300h has been dropped from the lineup, making all-wheel drive standard equipment for gas-electric models. A new 18-inch wheel design adds a bit of optional exterior appeal for NX200t and NX300h models while two new colors—Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 and Molten Pearl—are available for the NX200t F Sport. The NX200t is now also known as the NX Turbo, a naming adjustment that has been applied elsewhere in the Lexus lineup, too. For versions not equipped with the optional in-dash navigation system, the NX now features Scout GPS Link as standard. The software projects turn-by-turn directions from a compatible smartphone to the 7.0-inch dashtop infotainment display.

What We Like: Where the NX shines is in its ride comfort and cabin refinement, two categories that helped it snag a second-place finish in our latest comparison test. When compared with rivals such as the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, the Lexus offers the most comfortable seats in both the front and rear; in the context of the BMW’s firm, uncontoured, and unsupportive seats, the NX’s standard buckets are revelatory. The sport seats in the F Sport model add even more supportive bolstering, and this upgrade alone may be worth the $2100 price premium over the base model. Acceleration from the NX200t’s turbo four is adequate, and power delivery is relaxed and linear. The six-speed automatic provides seamless gearchanges. The NX300h, while perhaps not much more thrifty than the nonhybrid X1 and GLA, still offers measurably better fuel economy than the base car.

What We Don’t Like: The trade-off for the pillowy ride, SUV-like ride height, and easygoing powertrain is ho-hum performance and dynamic ability. In the aforementioned comparison test, an all-wheel-drive 2016 NX200t F Sport proved that it can’t hang with the Mercedes or the BMW. It circled the same 300-foot skidpad at 0.76 g, whereas the BMW X1 managed 0.86 g. In our acceleration testing, the NX200t needed 7.1 seconds to run from zero to 60 mph, a full second more than the Mercedes GLA250 4MATIC. The all-wheel-drive NX300h we tested was slower still, managing zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. Enthusiast drivers simply will not be satisfied. And despite its luxurious interior, the NX suffers from one major ergonomic misstep: the infotainment screen’s infuriating touchpad. Located on the center console, it’s the primary way to interact with the system (voice commands work for some functions), but it’s imprecise and difficult to use on the go.

Verdict: The NX’s aggressive styling belies its relaxed road manners, but the cabin’s luxury is unquestionable.

The Best and Others to Consider

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

Price Starting at

$34,895

Compare

Despite its SUV-like body, the X1 offers distinctly BMW-like driving fun, earning it one of our 10Best awards for 2018.

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

Price Starting at

$27,450

Compare

Based on the BMW X1, the Countryman trades some of its Mini-esque driving dynamics for more space and amenities.

The Editors' Rating summarizes a vehicle's overall degree of excellence and is determined by our editors, who evaluate hundreds of vehicles every year and consider numerous factors both objective and subjective.

Price Starting at

$39,595

Compare

The Jaguar E-Pace brings the British brand’s trademark style to the ever-expanding segment of small luxury crossovers.